by Laura Encinas   Taxes. The very word leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, like the black coffee in the stained, overheated carafe at a backwoods gas station that turns grey when you add milk. Maybe even extra bitter, week-old gas station coffee, since my taxes aren’t done yet. And April has sprung, so [...] Read more »

Most individuals nearing the age of 60 begin to recognize that those long-anticipated years of retirement grow ever closer. Visions of rest, relaxation, golf, and family time dance in their heads. Unfortunately, many are so eager to abandon the workplace that they ignore details regarding how, or even whether, their retirement plans will work. Others [...] Read more »

A while back I spoke to a church youth group about the basics of money management and was blown away at the incredible questions that were asked. These “kids” ranged from early high school age to early college age and as I presented information on budgeting and debt elimination, I was amazed at how hungry [...] Read more »

People considering filing bankruptcy these days often look to consumer debt counseling as an alternative. “Counseling” – it sounds so friendly, so helpful. Unfortunately, most consumer debt “counsel” typically amounts to debt consolidation loans or debt management programs which, in my professional opinion, offer Band-aids for deep financial wounds that need physical therapy, surgery, or [...] Read more »

The secret is out! If you believe proponents of The Secret, wealthy people merely think differently. The Law of Attractions and Positive Thinking, they claim, will rain riches down upon you. Meaning if you merely sustain the right thoughts, words and feelings, you will receive whatever you want. While I can’t laugh “positive thinking” completely [...] Read more »

WE’RE DEBT FREE!!!!! Read more »

Flowers? Check. Cake? Check. Ring? Check. Financial Coach? Ummm, what? Considering a common statistic that money problems are claimed by 70% of failed marriages as the reason for the divide, this should not be far off the mark. I believe one of the neatest gifts parents can give their children who are getting married is [...] Read more »

My wife Laura and I are constantly on the hunt for a deal. If we can seal those deals and save a few bucks here and there, we feel the dollars saved can go towards our kids education, retirement savings, or that new fly-fishing rod to satisfy my incurable need to hook and land a [...] Read more »

My Nani (that’s “Grandma” for my gringo friends) owned a succession of huge ceramic piggy banks that she would buy every couple of years from a shop on Alvera Street in East Los Angeles. She would drop all her change in it and when summer time rolled around, she would bash that pig and she [...] Read more »

I heard a great definition of “faith” in church a while back. The speaker, Henry Rojas declared, “Faith is taking action in the face of great doubt.” I cannot think of a more graphic portrayal of this than a vivid scene in the movie Lord of the Rings: when Frodo Baggins accepts his task to [...] Read more »